Page 544 - A TALE OF TWO CITIES

A Tale of Two Cities

IX

The Game Made

While Sydney Carton and the Sheep of the prisons
were in the adjoining dark room, speaking so low that not
a sound was heard, Mr. Lorry looked at Jerry in
considerable doubt and mistrust. That honest tradesman’s
manner of receiving the look, did not inspire confidence;

he changed the leg on which he rested, as often as if he
had fifty of those limbs, and were trying them all; he
examined his finger-nails with a very questionable
closeness of attention; and whenever Mr. Lorry’s eye
caught his, he was taken with that peculiar kind of short
cough requiring the hollow of a hand before it, which is
seldom, if ever, known to be an infirmity attendant on
perfect openness of character.
‘Jerry,’ said Mr. Lorry. ‘Come here.’
Mr. Cruncher came forward sideways, with one of his
shoulders in advance of him.
‘What have you been, besides a messenger?’
After some cogitation, accompanied with an intent
look at his patron, Mr. Cruncher conceived the luminous
idea of replying, ‘Agicultooral character.’

543 of 670